Nigeria's superior head-to-head record in qualifiers
Nigeria’s clash against Liberia at the Teslim Balogun Stadium will be the fifth time both countries will be squaring up against one another in qualification campaigns.
They first met on July 9, 2000, in a World Cup qualifier staged at the National Complex, Monrovia. Christopher Wreh’s brace propelled the Lone Star to a 2-1 win over the Super Eagles – who got their only goal through Nwankwo Kanu.
Kanu and Victor Agali found the net in the second leg which ended 2-0 at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.
En route to qualifying for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, both teams were paired together again. The first leg ended 2-2 in Paynesville – with Sekou Oliseh’s 66th-minute strike denying Stephen Keshi’s men victory.
The Liberians were embarrassed in the return leg as they got pummelled 6-1 at the UJ Esuene Stadium, Calabar. There, Victor Moses got a second-half double.
Overall, the Super Eagles have won two, lost one and drawn once against their West African foes.
Liberia national teamBackpagepix
Fifa World Ranking
If August’s Fifa ranking is anything to go by, Gernot Rohr’s Super Eagles will have no problems sending the Lone Star back home empty-handed.
While Nigeria are fourth in Africa and 34th in the world, Peter Butler’s men are a distant 46th on the continent and 150th in the world.
Paul Onuachu of NigeriaBackpagepix Nigeria's solid home form in World Cup qualifiers The Super Eagles are unbeaten in their last 24 home games in World Cup qualifying matches. Of all these outings, the three-time African kings won 21 fixtures, while ending three of them on a no-winner, no vanquished note.
Gernot Rohr’s men are expected to be lifted by this imposing record when they take on Butler’s men. Taribo West, Shannon MusaGetty
Liberia’s ambition The Lone Star are hoping to qualify for the global football showpiece for the first time in their history. However, they must negotiate their way past Gernot Rohr’s men, Cape Verde, and Central African Republic in Group C.
Their closest attempt at qualifying for the quadrennial football fiesta was in 2001, losing out on the ticket for South Korea and Japan 2002 to Nigeria by just one point in the qualifiers.
Victor OsimhenGetty Osimhen & Onuachu goalscoring combination Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Genk’s Paul Onuachu have either scored or assisted a goal in Nigeria’s last three qualification games.
The Europe based strikers are key players in Gernot Rohr’s squad, and they boast four goals combined for the three-time African kings.
Their combination will not only be expected to torment the Lone Star’s backline but also to get the much-needed goals.
Guinea vs Liberia - Wafu Cup of NationsBackpagepix Liberia’s uninspiring form
Although the West Africans would be hoping to shock the Super Eagles before their home fans, what could hinder that ambition is their poor form in recent matches.
They lost four out of five matches played in all competitions, with just one win that was achieved against Libya in a friendly match.
Even at this, coach Butler is unperturbed as his recent chat with media suggests that his team can get the job done against the 2013 African kings.
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